Nuclear waste deal challenged

Idaho's Republican Governor Phil Batt abused his
executive power when he signed a nuclear waste deal with the
federal government last October, according to Democratic state Sen.
Clint Stennett of Ketchum. In January, Stennett introduced
legislation to nullify the deal that will allow over 1,000
shipments of nuclear waste into the state over the next 40 years
(HCN, 11/13/95). He says the governor only has the power to
administer laws, not create them, as Batt did when he signed the
agreement.

"This isn't me versus the governor;
this isn't Democrat versus Republican," Stennett said. "This is
about the Legislature, the representatives of the people, keeping
their power to execute laws."

Most of the 27
Republicans in the Senate, however, oppose Stennett's bill, and he
is one of only eight Democrats. "It doesn't have much chance of
passing," acknowledged Stennett. "But it's what I believe in."